‘VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’: VOX Cinemas Cooks Up New Luxury Cinema Concept with Celebrity Chef Gary Rhodes OBE

Dubai,UAE: VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, has revealed plans to launch ‘VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’, an entirely new luxury cinema which will be the first concept of its kind in the Middle East. Partnering with Chef Gary Rhodes, this new concept is believed to be a world first, combining the best in cinema entertainment with a menu created by a Michelin star Chef, prepared by in house chefs who are all trained to meet the internationally renowned Rhodes’ standard.

Sitting at the helm of luxury cinema in the Middle East, VOX Cinemas is now looking to reinvent the concept by offering guests the chance to combine two of the world’s greatest passions – film and fine food. ‘VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’ will stay true to delivering the most innovative and customer-focused luxury cinema experiences while also presenting movie lovers with a full food and beverage menu prepared exclusively for VOX Cinemas by legendary Chef Gary Rhodes.

Chef, restaurateur, celebrity and author, Chef Gary Rhodes is a British Chef with five restaurants around the world. Famed for his mastery of ‘Great British Classics’ truly setting him apart, his restaurants have won him a constellation of Michelin stars and the worldwide recognition as ‘The Chef’s Chef’. Chef Gary has cooked on almost every continent for royalty, prime ministers, presidents, and a galaxy of stars in between. He has cooked on the QE2 and the Orient Express. He has achieved many personal ambitions including cooking for Princess Diana, the Jordan Formula One team, the British team at Le Mans, and his beloved Manchester United Football Club. More recently Chef Gary has been invited to British Embassies by the UK Government to cook all over the globe, including Tokyo Japan, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Bangkok Thailand, Auckland New Zealand and in the UAE. In 2006 Chef Gary was honoured with an OBE, undoubtedly the highlight of his career, being recognized for services to the British culinary world.

Commenting on his involvement in this concept, Chef Gary commented: “’VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’ is an exciting new marriage and challenge that we hope to turn into a culinary taste that blends and compliments the movie experience VOX Cinemas has always been known to offer and now adding a new venture that I feel proud to be part of. ‘VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’ will create a ‘premiere’ of EAT classics for all, as well as new flavours to partner the main event - the movie.”

Currently working with the region’s number one cinema chain, Chef Gary has been overseeing the recipe to successful development of this new concept by having a hand in every detail from staff training to kitchen set up, cutlery design and menu preparations, and the general public can look forward to trying this concept when it launches as part of the brand new VOX Cinemas development, in Majid Al Futtaim’s Mall of the Emirates extension this September.

Cameron Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas – VOX Cinemas, said: “We are incredibly proud of all of the innovative cinema concepts that we have introduced to our guests in the Middle East, and our new partnership with Chef Gary is yet another great chapter in our company’s evolution, and directly in line with our owner’s vision of creating great moments for everyone every day. The new VOX Mall Of The Emirates cinema will be the largest cinema in the Middle East, featuring all of the world’s most innovative cinema concepts including an IMAX laser projection system (the first in the Middle East), the region’s largest 4DX cinema (exclusive to VOX Cinemas) and two VOX Kids cinemas, the only cinemas designed especially for the younger fans. The pièce de résistance for the cinema, is now the world’s most premium integrated cinema and food and beverage experience, and we are delighted to partner with such an internationally renowned and talented chef to bring this concept to Mall Of The Emirates”.

He continued: “The Middle East has a very healthy appetite for luxury goods and services which shows no signs of abating and we hope to cater to this market through our new ‘VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’ concept. Having the opportunity to work with such a highly acclaimed chef has been inspiring, Chef Gary’s tireless attention to detail and unique mastery of the culinary craft has truly brought to life this concept and we look forward to launching it first at Mall Of The Emirates, then across our circuit from September.”

‘VOX THEATRE by Rhodes’ will introduce new levels of luxury providing cinema goers with a chance to indulge in unsurpassed VIP treatment and levels of service from exclusive lounge areas with stunning interior design and furnishings to interactive cinema seats and table service. The new VOX Cinemas concept is planned to open in Mall of the Emirates (Dubai), Yas Mall (Abu Dhabi) and Nation Towers (Abu Dhabi) in 2015.